Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - hooking up tv/vcr/dvd/cable

Ok, so I am trying to hook up my tv/vcr/dvd/cable so i can watch tapes/DVDs and also record Cable TV (i have a cable ready TV, so no cable box). I also have this exact RF modulator (http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/p1542598dt.jpg) for my DVD player because my TV is too old that it only has a coaxial jack in the back and that is it. My VCR has the encessary audio/video input/output jacks and coaxial jacks. the DVD player also has the jacks except for the coaxial jack.

Let me know if you need more info

thank you

paul (atebark at yahoo dot com)

there is a couple of ways you can hook it up,


here our a few ways, (also how many inputs do you have on your RF mod ?)

Some RF mods, can connect all of these then to you tv.

You would just follow the instruction book that came with the RF mod,

Here is a common set up with people I dealt with on this issue.

dvd to vcr, vcr to Rf mod to tv (cable in to RF mod, cable out from RF mod to tv) (( would use input button on vcr to get dvd screen) ( when in vcr mode))

I have also seen this way

dvd into vcr, cable into vcr and cable out from vcr out to tv, (no RF mod)

how old is your tv ? any input options if it has a remote ? or is it the old dial channel ?

sporty

I would not run the DVD into the VCR. You are already dregrading the signal enough. Besides, you may have issues with the copy protection built in to commercial DVDs. Run the DVD to the rf mod using the red, yellow, white cables.
Run the cable to the vcr. Connect the vcr to the rf mod using coax. Now connect the rf mod to the tv.

the TV is no more than 10 years ols. it is RCA and has on-screen menus but no input options (basics- color, channels, etc)

the modulator only has 1 set of a/v inputs


there is a couple of ways you can hook it up,


here our a few ways, (also how many inputs do you have on your RF mod ?)

Some RF mods, can connect all of these then to you tv.

You would just follow the instruction book that came with the RF mod,

Here is a common set up with people I dealt with on this issue.

dvd to vcr, vcr to Rf mod to tv (cable in to RF mod, cable out from RF mod to tv) (( would use input button on vcr to get dvd screen) ( when in vcr mode))

I have also seen this way

dvd into vcr, cable into vcr and cable out from vcr out to tv, (no RF mod)

how old is your tv ? any input options if it has a remote ? or is it the old dial channel ?

sporty

1) I actually already had the DVD to the rf mod using the red, yellow, white cables.

2) Run the Coax cable to the vcr- do you mean the the VCR "IN"? If so, will this prevent me from recording TV?

3) Connect the vcr to the rf mod using coax- does this mean it goes into the RF mod's "ANT IN" ?

4) Now connect the rf mod to the tv. Am i using the RF Mod's "TO TV" for this?

if this works, does it mean I will be changing the channels with the VCR or TV remote?

thanks so much to both of you


[/QUOTE]

I would not run the DVD into the VCR. You are already dregrading the signal enough. Besides, you may have issues with the copy protection built in to commercial DVDs. Run the DVD to the rf mod using the red, yellow, white cables.
Run the cable to the vcr. Connect the vcr to the rf mod using coax. Now connect the rf mod to the tv.

Do you hanve an antenna, also? When you say record from TV, you really want to record from the cable. Why run the signal from cable to the tv then to the vcr to record it? Besides, I doubt if your tv has an output jacks.
So, yes, cable goes to VCR IN.

Yes, VCR "Out to TV" to rf mod ANT IN.

Yes, rf mod "to TV"

Now about channel changing. The VCR has its own tuner builtin. The VCR has a button that will use or bypass the VCR's tuner. This button is on the VCR remote and usually labeled "VCR/TV". Check the manual to be sure.
My VCRs have an LED that lets me know if I'm using the VCR tuner or not.
When bypassing the vcr tuner, change the channels on the TV.
If using the VCR tuner, set the TV to channel 3 (or 4, depending on your setup) and change the channels using the VCR.

When you want to record a show, you MUST use the VCR tuner. Though is you set the timer to record a show, it will automatically record the correct channel. Now this confuses my wife (thank goodness for TIVO).
For example, say you are using the TV to change channels. A show is on and you want to record it. If you just press record, who knows what will be recorded? On the other hand, if you had used the VCR tuner, then what you see is what you get recorded.

Clear? The VCR must use its own tuner to record.

One more thing: Once you have this all hooked up, you must set all the cable channels on the VCR. ie) You can't tell it to record channel 72 if you haven't told it about channel 72 yet. VCR mfgs make this easy. In the set up menu is an option to scan all channels. Set the VCR to use cable and let it do the scanning. It only takes a few minutes and then you are all set.

it works! thanks so much...

one quickie, setting it up this way, do I sacrifice picture quality? whetehr via the TV or the VCR, the quality is sandy and there are wavy lines

as an aside, what is the OHMS 75/1k switch for on the modulator?

sporty982000, i'll check your way too and keep in mind about the copy protection.

Bob did a very good job in detail.

I dont believe you will have a copy protection issue, in playing thru vcr, The it was explained to me during training was the copy protection issue only accours thru trying to record.

Bob is much better at giving details than me,

but in lame terms - when the signal is sent to record, there is where the copy protection accours. In outgoing signal, is allowed by mfg, but not incoming signal.

even tho you are putting the outgoing dvd signal to the vcr say input 2, which is basically passing thru to the screen, with the input button on the vcr, say line 2.

versus, trying to send the signal from input into the recording of vcr.

Hope that came out right.

sporty

not sure what you meant by that. Also, can you help in explainign the fuzzy picture, whether i watch TV via the VCR channel or TV channel? the same fuzziness occurs when playing tapes/DVDs as well

I've seen this when the channels are not correct.

If you're using channel 3 to watch the vcr and DVD, set everything (VCR and rf mod) to channel 3. There is a switch on the back of the vcr and on the rf mod. Then turn to channel 3 on the TV to watch the vcr, use the vcr tuner, or watch a DVD.

If you are using channel 4, then set everything to channel 4 and turn the tv to channel 4 to watch a tape of dvd.